Back to School Trip - Day 2

[in Clearfield, PA at 0400L - was really tired, so I took a couple hour nap at a rest area in ____ until around 0800L) - made it to Fremont, OH at 0925L and then got a speeding ticket just after entering Indiana (he made me sit in the car with him for a bit) - arrived in S/B at noon - just in time to sign the paperwork with Jamie in Mishawaka - date uncertain...]

Back to School Trip - Day 1

[left Eileen with Dad - he will take her to airport tonight - was getting pressure from Jamie to arrive by noon tomorrow! - left at 1930L - drove through NYC (in Paterson, NJ at 2345L) - date uncertain...]

Boston, MA (USA)

[date uncertain - drove to Logan Airport to pick up Eileen]

Maine Trip - Day 4

[having car trouble - took it slow going home (after a stop in Kittery) - drove through downtown Boston, checking oil all the way - not good...]

Maine Trip - Day 3

[left campground - explored a little more of the Maine Coast - called Kristi and ended up staying with her in Winthrop]

Maine Trip - Day 2

[exploring the park]

Maine Trip - Day 1

[drove up to Maine - to see Acadia National Park - stopped at Kennebunkport to see President Bush's house - made it to White Birches Campground (Mount Desert Island)]

Norfolk, VA (USA)

Got up really early for the return flight to Boston. Home in evening.

Norfolk, VA (USA)

DAY 13

Norfolk, VA (USA)

DAY 12

Norfolk, VA (USA)

DAY 11

Norfolk, VA (USA)

DAY 10

Norfolk, VA (USA)

DAY 9

Norfolk, VA (USA)

DAY 8

Norfolk, VA (USA)

DAY 7

Norfolk, VA (USA)

More early morning PT... We went to see an interesting demonstration of ship handling today - conducted with models that are big enough to carry a man. I guess the best way to describe it is to say that it was like a canoe sized boat was constructed with the scale dimensions of a real ship. Somehow, the bouyant characteristics and propulsive response is similar to what a real ship would be like... It was interesting. We had lunch and an "out-brief" before we were sent down to an area near the beach to visit the Marines. We belong to them now...

Norfolk, VA (USA)

We spent most of the day over at Little Creek Amphibious Base - some interesting simulations for our group in 3-D. The morning was all about tactics - using scale models. It was interesting. After a nice lunch at the "Amphib Wardroom," we got several other briefs about the other types of operations that are conducted at the base. Dinner was kind of early - and there was time for relaxing afterwards. I took the opportunity to go over to the barber shop. I asked for a "high-and-tight" (ROTC Joe gives those - I thought...) and ended up with no hair! I think I got a little carried away, but we'll be seeing the Marines tomorrow - maybe it will be a good thing...

Norfolk, VA (USA)

Early PT again (0600) and some breakfast - all done before 0700. We got to ride on a helicopter today - an H-46. There were two, so I could see the other one along side as we flew out to visit some Spruance Destroyers. One helo went to one ship and one went to the other. When we got inside, we were greeted by the Midshipman Coordinator - LT Coogan! I was quite surprised to meet someone with the same last name, but he proceeded non-chalantly with his brief. Afterwards, though, he took me with him for a personal tour of the ship. Everyone else went off somewhere else (not sure where) and I ended up on the Bridge. The Skipper thought it was funny to have someone with a mini-version of his Lieutenant - and he had me conning the ship alongside the other destroyer within a few minutes! That was really something - I never dreamed of controlling something so big (especially so close to another, equally big, thing). I really enjoyed my time on the ship and LT Coogan made me feel like we were related (who knows?). We were picked up by a hydrofoil for a high-speed run back to Norfolk. After dinner, all 200 of us got together for drinks and stories at the Club.

Norfolk, VA (USA)

Breakfast was early again - but no PT before (a few extra minutes of sleep!). We got to do something really cool today - Damage Control Training! I never expected to get this opportunity. We were taken to a Simulator (nearly full scale mock-up of a ship - called "FTC Buttercup") and got to participate in real drills of a ship with leaks. They never filled the place entirely with water (I guess they actually can, though), but it was very hard to get around and the water was spraying everywhere! We did stop some of it with special pipe coverings and worked on "dogging" hatches to keep the water out. After about three hours, we went back for lunch - and found we had the rest of the day off!